Line number indicator for typewriters



Sept. 25, 1956 E. G. JOHNSON- LINE NUMBER INDICATOR'FOR TYPEWRITERSFiled March 25, 1951 jaws/wok lllllllllllll United States Patent LINENUMBER INDICATOR FOR TYPEWRITERS Ervin G. Johnson, Oakland, Calif.,assignor to Eleanor de Hass Johnson, Oakland, Calif. Application March23, 1951, Serial No. 217,173 8 Claims. (Cl. 197-489) This inventionrelates to line number indicators for typewriters and particularly to adevice which will unmistakably indicate the particular line of a numberof lines turned through by the usual line spacer mechanism of atypewriter.

The device may be more generally called a rotation or angle measuringdevice in that it indicates the angle through which the platen isrotated by a line spacing and platen setting mechanism.

It is the practice in the general purpose typewriter to make thevariable spacing mechanism so that the spaces between lines areacceptably standard, such spacings being six, three, or two line spacesto the inch in this country.

It is often desirable in using a typewriter to be able to determine theserial number of a certain line on a page of typewritten lines withrespect to the first line or some other reference point such as the topedge of the sheet. This determination is preferably made without havingto turn the sheet back to the initial point, or in any other manner tohave to disturb the typewriter mechanism.

It is usual, for instance, to pre-number the lines of the writing sheet,either by printing or by typewriting the numbers on the sheet before thesheet has been typed. Of printing and typing methods the latter is aptto be more accurate in line registration and to present the neatercomposite appearance. This is so because line spacing mechanisms areessentially constant angle spacing mechanisms and therefore the spacingsbetween the lines of typing are functions also of the radius of theplaten plus the thickness of the number of sheets of paper typed upon.Since pre-printed line numbers are necessarily spaced to the nominalspacing of all general purpose typewriters the typewritten lines ofindividual typewriters often do not register from line number to linenumber.

Typing the numbers on the sheet is time and labor consuming andoftentimes not desired for other reasons. Accordingly, other deviceshave been employed in practice with the purpose of informing the typist,while typing a particular sheet, precisely which line she is typing onthat particular sheet, without placing any line numbers on the pageitself. One example of such a device is a trans-fer sheet (carbon paper)with a strip of pre-printed line numbers along the rig-ht hand edgecorresponding to the spacing of all standard typewriters. line number isin this case fixed with respect to the first line of typing because ofthe operation by the typist known as jogging of the writing and transfersheets into registry along their leading edges prior to insertionbeneath the typewriter platen. All of such carbon sheet line numeralsare necessarily alike, and are preset. Due

placed in a zone on the periphery of the platen roll itself. As theplaten is rotated by the space feed, the number of the line is indicatedby the line indicating numerals. in registration with a pointer fixed onthe car- I riage. These devices are usually accurate in registration ofthe line numbers with the typewritten line because there is a fixedrelation between the line space mechanism-and the device. Usually theyare fixed with respect to the platen roll, however, and it is difficultto relate the first line to be typed to the first line number of theindicator. Of this class, however, there are some which provide foradjusting the indicator after the typing sheets have been set in placeunder the platen so that the first line number is in registration withthe first line to be typed. Nevertheless, a common characteristic ofthis class is that the indicator does not distinguish between thenumbers of the indicator which appear to identify two or more widelyspaced apart lines on the typewritten sheet. For example, in onetypewriter, the first, sixteenth, and thirtyfirst lines of a typewrittensheet all register with the indicator scale on the same line, and thescale numbers are therefore all of necessity on the same line. Thereforethe typist must distinguish the first, sixteenth, and thirty-first linesby other means, such as by estimating in which portion of the sheet eachline occurs. This need follows from the fact that the platen rollrepeats its angular position exactly at each complete rotation. I

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a line numberindicating deviceunmistakably indicative of the one line number of thesheet with which it is in registration, and in which no other linenumber of the sheet is indicated in any manner confusing to the typist.

The devices of the general character referred to have either beenprefabricated as an integral part of the typewriting machine itself, oras an integral part of the platen roll, or as a part of the transfersheet to be used in the typewriter. in the case of all prefabricatedmachines, the machines which have not been provided with such devices atthe time of manufacture, and which are in use, cannot, readily andwithout expense, be fitted with such devices. In the case of thetransfer sheet line indicator, the markings do not permanentlycharacterise the machine. It is another of the objects of my inventionto provide for the addition to any existing general purpose typewriterof a line number indicating'device in a manner so that any typist caninstall the device without the assistance of even a typewriter mechanic.

It is another object of my invention to provide the design for such adevice such that it can be made from materials which are generally athand to the typist. Most of the devices that have heretofore beenproposed or employed for this purpose are of necessity manufactured in afactory where their production can be elfected at a minimum ofproduction cost, and cannot be made by a typist. Applicants, inventionrequires no factory for its manufacture. It can be made and installed bythe typist in ten minutes, can be made of the simplest materials and yetgive months of service.

The machine-attached devices for indicating the line numbers oftypewritten sheets of which I am aware require the expenditure ofconsiderable effort in manufacture, and have not been generally adopted.By the present invention, the desired results are attained by the typistwithout adding to the initial cost of the machine; moreover, the devicedoes not interfere with operation of the machine because when not neededit is simply ignored. Only in the event indications are desired is thetypist required to make certain simple manipulations, and these acts areperformed only after the typewritten sheets are fully prepared fortyping with the first line of the sheet to be typed upon ready forstriking by the type. This makes routine setting of the indicator aneasy matter to perform or omit.

It is another object of the invention to provide a simple indicatorwhich functions to indicate with accuracy to the typist when the lastline of the page is approach- 'ing. This object is an incident of thefunction of indicating the number of the page line inasmuch as the pageline is referred to the leading edge of the sheet in the usual case.

Other objects and advantages will be evident upon considering thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a schematic representation of parts of a general purposetypewriter showing the uncompleted device forming part of the inventioninstalled therein, prior to completion;

Fig. 2 is a similar representation with the device completed and inoperation; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of part of the device completed,illustrating particularly the relative disposition of the lineindicating numerals as rolled out on a fiat plane.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated the right hand end of the platenroll of a general purpose typewriter, the roll being fixed to a shaft 12which is journalled on a carriage, part 14 of which is schematicallyillustrated in Fig. 2 to form a stop as will be pointed out. Suitableline space, and platen roll detaining, mechanisms are mounted on thecarriage, these devices serving to rotate the platen 10, which platenalso constitutes a rotating member formed with a continuous rollingsurface, through fixed angles, as is well understood by users oftypewriting machines. The machines are also provided with clutches bymeans of which the roll may be shifted with respect to the line spacedevices for precise registration of type with any particular area of asheet of paper 16. In addition, and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, thecarriage of such general purpose standard machines is provided withpressure rolls 18 and 20. A suitable carriage 22 for these pressurerolls is biased by a spring 24, toward the roll 10; acting, as through alever 26, pivoted on a stationary pivot 28, and actuated by a hand lever30. It should be observed that these devices, as illustrated, are merelyschematically illustrated and described. It will be understood thatthere are several rollers 18 on shaft 19, and several rollers on shaft21. It is pointed out, however, that rollers 18 and 20 here of interestare the right-end-most rollers of each shaft. It is particularly to beobserved, moreover, that the rollers may be completely disengaged, andheld so disengaged, from the roller 10 and spaced therefrom so that agap exists for freedom of paper to slide between the rollers. In thisWay a large number of sheets of paper with interleaved carbon sheets,may be accommodated between the roll 10 and the rollers 18 and 20. Whilethe rollers are so spaced apart all such sheets are free of tractiveengagement with the platen roll and these pressure rollers; and underthese conditions all of the leading edges of such sheets may be broughtto a common plane of registry with the leading edge 34 of the top sheet,and this edge is positioned parallel with the trailing edge 36. Aftersuch registration of the sheets, the rollers 13 and 20 are released toclamp the pack of sheets firmly onto the platen roll. By releasing theroll clutch, the top edge 34 may be placed in exact registry with theline gauge or indicator 33, which indicator 38 is fixed on the frame ofthe machine in front of the platen roll 10 and the top sheet of typingpaper. Such an indicator may also be fixed to the carriage adjacent theright end of the platen roll, or on some device which moves with thecarriage. The clutch is then engaged and the top edge 34 is fed upwardlyby the line space mechanism as many line spaces as are desired to thefirst line to be typed upon. This line is illustrated at 40 in Fig. 2,but it is not necessarily present on sheet 16, nor need it be placedthere except for the present purpose of explanation.

The foregoing description sets out the construction of features oftypewriters as found in general use and which in some measure afiect thepresent invention. The in- 'used ordinary sixteen pound typewriterpaper.

eter than the external perimeter or circumference of the platen roll,the difference at least being suflicient to allow the tube to slipfreely circumferentially on the platen roll when free of the idlerrollers, and also suf-- ficient so that the typed numbers on the tubewill not occur on the same axial line, as will appear. The tube"circumferential perimeter is uniform from end 42a to end 4217. In thedrawing, the left end 42a of tube 42- is shown to terminate at rollers18 and 20, in Fig. 2 roller 20 being shown in section at the plane oftermination of tube 42. For some purposes the tube 42 may terminate tothe right of rollers 18 and 20, provided it is overlapped by the copysheets as shown. The right end of tube 42 is shown abutting a part 14 ofthe carriage, although such abutment often does not occur and dependsupon the manner of installation of the tube by the typist. These limits,however, determine the tube length which will work satisfactorily evenif the tube circumference is not precisely the same from end to end,because the tube cannot work rightward from clamping engagement withrollers 18, 20, and 1%; it remaining of necessity because of its length,to some extent between these rollers, or between the roller and thesheets, as seen in Fig. 2. It is not necessary oftentimes that thisabutment 14 be employed, because the tube often does not move right orleft as it is rotated.

It will be observed that the rollers 18 and 2.0 with their controls,constitute means for causing members 10 and 42 to contact for rollingengagement and means for causing the two members to be released fromrolling engagement.

The internal perimeter of tube 42 is described as greater than theexternal perimeter of the platen roll 10. The difference in theirperimeters is made sufficient to allow the tube to slip loosely on theroll when released by rollers 18 and 20. To this extent the drawingFigs. 1 and 2 greatly exaggerate this difference with the purpose onlyto visually emphasize the fact that there is a difierence in perimeters;that there is this difference is essential to the ultimate function ofthe invention as will appear.

The tube 42 may be prefabricated in tubular form for machines havingeasily removed platen rolls 10, in which case it may be flattenedbetween the time of manufacture and the time of installation; and uponinstallation the platen roll is lifted out of the typewriter, the tube42 slipped over its end, and the assembly replaced in the typewriter inthe relationship shown.

The tube 42 will, in many cases, be partially fabricated in situ. Thesheet from which it is made is selected with parallel end edges 42a and42b, then inserted under the platen. With end portions of the respectiveedges 42a and 42b in registry while loosely wrapped about the roll 10,the sheet is marked at both ends for cutting to the required perimetrallength as described above. The sheet is then removed and cut, preferablysquarely, off. The sheet is then replaced around the roll 10 and thecutoff edges brought to matching registry as along edges 44, and theedges fixed in abutting relation with a narrow adhesive strip of paper,or tape.

The tube having been completely installed on the typewriter roll to haveits right edge near to the part 14 of the carriage, the correct positionfor placing indicator numerals, or marks thereon is next determined byinserting a sheet 16 of the paper to be typed on in normal typingposition under the platen. Its edge 16b shows that the indicatingnumerals must be placed rightward of edge 16b in order to be visible.The numerals 1 through 33 have been illustrated typed on tube 42 in Fig.2 as they The tube 42 constitutes a mem occur when the double space isused. It will be observed that the number 16 is offset rightward fromthe precedmg numeral 15. It will, moreover, be observed that the numeral16 occurs at a position on the tube peripherally offset from the numeral1, or, the circumferential distance on the marked surface of tube 42between these two marks 1 and 16 is other than, and as shown, less than,the circumferential distance around the tube from numeral 1 and tonumeral 1; and that the numeral 1 is likewise offset from the numeral31. In Fig. 3 it is evident that no two indicating numerals occur inregistry on the same axial line of the tube. This is an importantcharacteristic of the invention resulting from the difference inperipheral length of the tube and the roller being more, or less,preferably less, than one line space, and when more, always including afraction of a line space. It follows, therefore, that the value of thedistance be tween any two adjoining numerals or marks, as the distancebetween numerals 2 and 3 on tube 42, is arithmetically indivisible intothe distance on the surface of tube 42 from mark 1 to mark 1 (which isthe distance around tube 42 on the marked surface) a whole number oftimes. Because of this construction, when the bottom of numeral 1 hasbeen set in registry with the top edge of line indicator 38 as shown inFig. 2, each succeeding line appears in such registry as the line feedis operated. Thus, when 16 lines have been spaced, the bottom of numeral16 lies in exact registry with the top edge of line gage 38. Moreover,at this time, the numeral 1 is covered by gage 38, and 31 is above gage38. It is, therefore, unmistakably known that the line of the sheet isthe 16th line.

It will be observed that the adjoining marks are separated by an arcwhich connotes a displacement of 24 geometrical degrees of angle, andthat the fifteen spaces from 1 to 16 connote one full rotation of themember 10; similarly the numeral 32 connotes a second full rotation. Themarks 1 to 15, inclusive, are one group and the marks 16 to 30,inclusive, are a second group, and the two groups constitute a singleprogressive series of numbers which are circumferentially equispaced andwhich progression is in a circumferential direction.

In using the line indicator, the various copy sheets 16 are set in placefor the first line to be typed thereon as indicated in Fig. 2. Thetypist then presses the fingers of the left hand firmly against thesheets 16 thus tem porarily using the fingers to clamp the sheets inplace on the platen, while releasing the rolls 18 and 20 with lever 30.The tube 42 is now free for rotary sliding about platen roll 10. Thetypist effects this rotation of tube 42 with the right hand indexfinger, dragging on the exposed part of tube 42, sliding it so thatnumeral 1 appears as shown in Fig. 2 in registry with gage 38. Clamp 30is now released and the device, along with the typewriter, is ready fortyping the sheet. As each line space is effected the serial number ofthat line is indicated in exact registry with the gage 38.

The reason for restricting the amount of the left end of tube 42 to ashort length to be lapped with sheets 16 is now more easily understood.It reduces the amount of frictional resistance to this adjustment by thefingers, allowing free rotation of the tube between the platen roll andthe sheets of copy and carbon paper. It also tends to prevent leftwardcreep of the tube.

It is also believed to be clear that the web of tube 42 is preferablyquite thin and relatively inelastic in .its own plane. Thinness preventsunevenness of the feeding of the sheets 16 at the two sides of thepaper. The surface finish of the tube 42 is, particularly in the lappingregion referred to, reasonably smooth. The tube 42 may, of course, befabricated of a more durable material than the paper referred to, aswill occur to those familiar with sheet materials.

I claim:

1. The method of forming a line number indicator for typewriters havingcylindrical platen rolls which method comprises forming a tube of thinflexible sheet material about the platen roll to a circumferencesufliciently greater than the circumference of said roll to have a looseand freely rotative fit thereon, and thereafter utilizing'the typewriterto place line numbers thereon.

2. The method of claim 1, with the tube being held to the platen roll toprevent slippage therebetween.

3. The method of claim 2, the last step further comprising placingnumerals in peripheral groups, each group being on a separatelongitudinal area and extending substantially through a full rotation ofthe tube, the numbers in each group being progressive and progressingfrom one group to the next adjacent group to form a single progressiveseries of circumferentially equispaced numbers.

4. A rotation measuring device comprising, in combination: a firstrotating member formed with a continuous rolling surface; a secondmember formed with at least one continuous rolling surface forcontinuous rolling engagement with the surface of said first member; anda plurality of groups of marks forming a series of marks on one surfaceof said second member, each of said groups arranged in the direction ofrolling movement thereof for indicating incremental rotations of saidfirst member; the distance on, and in the direction of rolling of, saidmarked surface between two marks in said series being other than thedistance around said marked surface, the marks in said series adjoiningeach other in the direction of rolling movement being equally spacedapart, and the equal spacing of the marks being such as to bearithmetically indivisible into the distance around said marked surfacea whole number of times whereby no two marks occupy the same line normalto such direction on said marked surface.

5. A rotation measuring device according to claim 4 and furtherincluding in combination with the structure thereof; an indicatingmember, means positioning the indicator member in a position adjoiningthe path of movement of the marks on said marked surface, and means forsetting a position of the first rotating member such that when one ofthe marks adjoins the indicating member the mark connotes an anglethrough which the first member has been rotated.

6. A rotation measuring device according to claim 4, and furtherincluding in combination with the structure thereof, means for causingthe two members to contact for rolling engagement and means for causingthe two members to be released from rolling engagement whereby onemember may be adjusted in rotation with respect to the other member.

7. A line number indicator for typewriters having a cylindrical platenroll, comprising: a tube of thin flexible material of a size to beloosely circumjacent such roll, and on said tube a progressive series ofcircumferentially equispaced numbers progressive circumferentially ofand a distance greater than the circumference of said tube, the ratio ofsuch circumference to said space being a non-whole-number.

8. The combination of claim 7 in which said series of numbers form andare divided into a plurality of parallel spaced apart groups.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS545,233 Keith Aug. 27, 1895 771,224 Bellamy Oct. 4, 1904 889,918 FarmerJune 9, 1908 1,013,953 Richardson Jan. 9, 1912 1,228,637 Barnard June 5,1917 1,376,996 Beland May 3, 1921 1,844,992 Thurban Feb. 16, 19321,938,371 Bottle Dec. 5, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 77,391 Switzerland Apr.16, 1918

